Dual sliding jaw wrench



July 21, 1964 L. J. FERRY 3,141,363

DUAL. SLIDING JAW WRENCH Filed Dec. 14, 1962 rHg-s 2 i .g' 5. 15;. 55 hm; ink

Fig-4 INVENTOR. LEON I- FERRY ATTORNEY$ United States Patent 0.

3,141,363 DUAL SLIDING JAW WRENCH Leon J. Ferry, 28 Lake St., Celoron, N.Y. Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,822 3 Claims. (Cl. 81-128) This invention relates to a novel self-adjusting dual sliding jaw wrench.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of the kind indicated which enables reaching nuts and the like, in difficult to reach or confined places, and automatic effective engagement of the jaws of the wrench with nuts and the like, of different sizes, simply by pushing the jaws thereagainst, the dual jaws being spring-pressed and connected to simultaneously conform themselves to the sizes of the nuts and the like; and to automatically spread the jaws and free the nut, upon withdrawal of the wrench from the nut, so that any other manipulation of the wrench to free the same from the nut is not needed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple, rugged, easy-operating, and efficient wrench of the character indicated above, which is composed of a small number of uncomplex and easily assembled parts.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a wrench of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an edge elevation of the wrench in assembled condition;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing the jaws in their normal maximum spread condition;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE 4; and,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view, like FIGURE 4, showing the jaws engaged with a nut, and in a corresponding intermediate spread condition.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designating like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated wrench comprises an elongated, preferably flat handle 10 which terminates, at its forward end, in a preferably integral, flat, three-quarter circular head 12.

The head 12 is formed with a centered, forwardly flaring V-shaped notch 14 having fiat sides 16. The apex of the notch 14, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, is bridged by a forwardly tapered V-shaped head portion 18, having sides which are disposed substantially at right angles to the notch sides 16.

A longitudinal centered bore 22 is formed in the handle 10, has a closed rear end 24, spaced rearwardly from the head 12, and opens through the apex of the portion 18. The forward end portion of the bore 22 is occupied by a relatively short cylindrical plunger 26, which is yieldably urged forwardly by a coil spring 28, in the bore 22, which is compressed between the rear end 24 of the bore and the rear end of the plunger. The plunger 26 has a conical forward end 30.

The sides 16 of the notch 14 are formed with key-hole cross section grooves or slideways 32, which are centered relative to the sides 34, of the head 12, and parallel the notch sides 16. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, the grooves 32 extend rearwardly behind the head portion 18 and open, at similar acute angles, into the bore 22, at a point intermediate the ends of the bore. The grooves 32 are composed of substantially three-quarter cylindrical 3,141,353 Patented July 21, 1964 ice portions 35 and relatively narrow, parallel-sided throats 36, which open to the notch sides 16.

Dual sliding jaws 38 and 38a are substantially similar in construction, except that the jaw 38 has a notch 60 which is slidably engaged by a lug 60a on the jaw 38a, whereby the jaws are operatively connected to move simultaneously, along the groove 32, in which they are slidably engaged, toward and away from the normal maximum spread condition, shown in FIGURE 4, and to the same degree.

The jaws 38 and 38a are shorter than the grooves 32, and have key-hole cross section slides 42 and 42a, respectively, on their laterally outward sides, which are conformably engaged in the grooves. Preferably integral with and extending along the laterally inward sides of the slides are rectangular jaw bodies 44 and 44a which are shorter than the slides, and are spaced, at their rear ends 46 and 46a, respectively, from the rear ends 48 and 48a, respectively, of the slides 42 and 42a, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. The rear ends of the slides 42 and 42a, respectively, are forwardly and rearwardly bevelled.

The jaw bodies 44 and 44a, which are wider than the related slides, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3, and 5, have flat outer surfaces 52 and 52a, respectively, which bear slidably against the sides laterally adjacent to the notch sides 16, at opposite sides of the grooves 32, the bodies 44 and 44a being preferably as thick as the head 12.

The jaw bodies 44 and 44a have relatively short laterally inwardly parallel surfaces 54 and 54a, which can abut, in a minimum spread condition of the jaws, as shown in FIGURE 6. The surfaces 54 and 54a are in the rear ends of the jaws, and from their forward edges forwardly and laterally outwardly angled nut face engaging surfaces 56 and 56a extend. At their forward ends, the surfaces 56 and 56a meet the rear ends of parallel longitudinally extending reduced length nut face engaging surfaces 58 and 58a, respectively.

The inward surface 54 of the jaw 38 is formed, intermediate its ends, with a transverse notch 60, which opens to the sides of the jaw body 44; and the inward surface 54a of the jaw 38a is formed, intermediate its ends, with a transverse lug 60a, which extends to the sides of the jaw body 44a, the lug 60a being slidably engaged in the notch 60, whereby the jaws 38 and 38a are operatively connected together, to move simultaneously and to the same degree, in either direction.

The rear ends 46 and 46a of the jaw bodies 44 and 44a are disposed at slight forward and laterally inward angles, substantially conforming to the surface of the conical end 30 of the plunger 26, which is engaged therewith.

The jaws are prevented from being pushed forwardly out of the grooves 32 and from moving too far rearwardly, by transverse stop pins 64 and 64a, which extend through transverse bores 66 and 66a, in the head 12. The bores 66 and 66a, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, partially intersect the circular portions 35 of the grooves 32. The inward sides of the pins 64 and 64a, when extended through the bores 66 and 6611, are positioned in longitudinal slots 68 and 68a, formed in the laterally outward sides of the circular portions 70 and 70a of the slides 42 and 42a, respectively, the slots 68 and 68a being spaced from the ends of the slides.

In operation, the plunger 26 is constantly urged by the spring 28, into engagement with the inner or rear ends of the jaws 38 and 38a, so that, unless resisted by contact with a nut N, the jaws are pressed forwardly by the spring 28, to their maximum spread condition seen in FIGURE 4, to receive the maximum size nut which the wrench is constructed to receive and turn, in opposite directions.

However, when the wrench is pushed toward a nut smaller than the maximum size, as shown in FIGURE 6, the surfaces 56 and 56a of the jaws engage the adjacent faces of the nut, whereby the jaws are moved rearwardly, and toward each other, against the resistance of the spring 28, until the jaw surfaces 58 and 58a engage the parallel faces of the nut, whereat the nut is gripped, to be turned, in either direction. When turning of the nut has been completed, and the wrench is withdrawn rearwardly, relative to the nut, the jaws automatically spread away from each other, thereby freeing the nut and eliminating any need for further manipulating the wrench to free the same from the nut.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual sliding jaw wrench comprising a head formed with a forwardly-flaring notch having forwardly-diverging sides, opposed jaws slidably mounted on the head for forward and rearward movements relative to the head at forwardly divergent angles relative to each other, said jaws having opposed gripping means on their laterally inward sides, the rear ends of the jaws being laterally inwardly and forwardly angled, a spring-biased plunger having a conical forward end engaged with the angled rear ends of the jaws and urging the jaws forwardly, and stop means limiting forward movements of the jaws relative to the head.

2. A dual sliding jaw wrench comprising a head formed with a forwardly-flaring notch having forwardly-diverging sides, opposed jaws slidably mounted on the head for forward and rearward movements relative to the head at forwardly divergent angles relative to each other, said jaws having opposed gripping means on their laterally inward sides, the rear ends of the jaws being laterallyinwardly and forwardly angled, a spring-biased plunger having a conical forward end engaged with the angled rear ends of the jaws and urging the jaws forwardly, and

' for simultaneous forward and rearward movements in the same degree, said means embodying a lug on one of said jaws slidably engaged in a conformably-shaped notch formed in the other of said jaws.

3. A dual sliding jaw wrench comprising a head, a handle extending rearwardly from the head, said head being formed in its forward end with a forwardly flaring notch having forwardly divergent sides and an open portion, slideways in the head extending along and opening to the notch sides, jaws having laterally outward surfaces sliding on the sides laterally adjacent to said notch sides, said jaws having slides confined slidably in said slidings, stop means engaged with the jaws and limiting forward movements of the jaws relative to the head, said head and said handle being formed with a longitudinal bore having a closed rear end, said bore opening through said apex portion, a plunger sliding in said bore and engaging the rear ends of the jaws, and a spring in said bore compressed between the rear end of the bore and the rear end of the plunger, said stop means comprising elongated notches in the laterally outward sides of the slides, and transverse stop pins extending through the head and having portions projecting into the slideways and positioned in said notches, the rear ends of the jaws being laterally inwardly and forwardly angled, and said plunger having a conical forward end conformably engaging the rear ends of the jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 4, 1928 

1. A DUAL SLIDING JAW WRENCH COMPRISING A HEAD FORMED WITH A FORWARDLY-FLARING NOTCH HAVING FORWARDLY-DIVERGING SIDES, OPPOSED JAWS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE HEAD FOR FORWARD AND REARWARD MOVEMENTS RELATIVE TO THE HEAD AT FORWARDLY DIVERGENT ANGLES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, SAID JAWS HAVING OPPOSED GRIPPING MEANS ON THEIR LATERALLY INWARD SIDES, THE REAR ENDS OF THE JAWS BEING LATERALLY INWARDLY AND FORWARDLY ANGLED, A SPRING-BIASED PLUNGER HAVING A CONICAL FORWARD END ENGAGED WITH THE ANGLED REAR ENDS OF THE JAWS AND URGING THE JAWS FORWARDLY, AND STOP MEANS LIMITING FORWARD MOVEMENTS OF THE JAWS RELATIVE TO THE HEAD. 